Circuit-continuing device



1,634,404 July 5, 1-927. H. A. DOUGLAS CIRCUIT CONTINUING DEVICE Filed April 4. 1921 Patented an -s, 1921.

UNITED STATES r T s1 assay a rename, or Bronson, HiGHIGAN.

mourn-comments DEVICE.

Application fled apru 4, 1921. Serial No. 488,555.

My invention relates to circuit continuin movable within the shell to constitute it a 5 devices of the class employing shells an switching element, and a handle for assemcontact carriers movable in the shells. for blin thls contact carrier with the shell. opening and closing the circuit, and hasfor Lilxe parts areindicated by-similar char- 5 one of 'ts objects the provision of an imacters of reference throughout the differentproved construction whereby the handle of figures. the switching mechanism is prevented from The circuit continuing device illustrated coming disassembled fromthe contact car-- includes a metal shell 1 and an insulating rier rovidedfitherewith and whereby the contact carrier 2 therein which is preferably 10 handl assembles the, carrier and shel rotatable within the. bore of the shell to The invention has for another of its obopen and close the circuit This contact jects the'employment of a circuit continuing carrier isillustrated as being provided with device of the class described in conjunction two conducting rods 3 and 4 which arewith a plug' insertable laterally the'reinto; formed with recesses at their outer ends that 15 This plug is so interrelated with the shell as receive the conductin wires 5 and 6 which to prevent the circuit osening adjustment of are clamped-in place y means of the bindthe circuit continuing evice when the plug mg screws 7 V and 8. The inner ends of is m position. I these conducting rods 3 and 4 are formed In car 'ng out the first object of my 1n-' with longitudinal bores in which the con- 20 vention t e shell is provided with .a slot tacts' 9 and 10 are disposed, springs 11 and through which the switching handle is 12 being employed to press these contacts passe into the contact carrier that is movoutwar y into engagement with compleable within the shell to adjust the relation mental contacts 13 and 14 upon the inner of the circuit closing contacts, the handle end of the base 15 of an incandescent lamp 25 being provided with a transverse roove re- 16. This incandescent lamp base carries ceiving an edge portionof the s ot in the bayonet pins 17 which are receivable within shell to maintain said handle and the conthe bayonet channels 18 in the adjacent outer tact ca er into which it is inserted in asend of the shell 1, the springs 11 and 12 ith eaohiother and with the shell, serving to maintain the lamp base in assemin formed with an enlargement bly with the shell. It is to be understood through W111i said handle may be passed that the lamp base may be replaced by other into the contact carrier that-is to receive it. forms of contact carrier wit out departing In carry g out "the second object of my from the spirit of my invention. invention the shell has "an opening in its In order that the circuit of the lamp or as side through which the current conducting other translating device may be opened and plug is insertable into the some contact carclosedthe contact carrier 2 is moved with rerier that is movable within the shell, thespent to the contact carrier 15, the contact shell serving to hold the plug from movecarrier 2 g preferably turned in order to ment to prevent switching movement of the bring the contacts'9 and 10 Into or-out-of 40 contact carrier that receives .it. connection with the contacts 13 and 14, .the

Y lam my invention more fully springs 11 and 12 continuing to function to by reference to the accom anying drawing maintain the contact. carrier 15 in place in which Fig. 1 is a view n; elevation of a whether. these springs press the contacts 9 circuit'continuing device constructed in acand 10 against the contacts 13 and 14 or 5 cordance with the preferred embodiment of against the insulationofthecontact carrier 15 the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on that is adjacent the contacts 13 and 14. The

. line 2-2 of Fi 1 Fig.3 is a sectional view contact carrier.2 is provided with]; handle19 on line 3-3 0 Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a'v'iew simby which the contact carrier 2 may be moved I ilar to Fig. 3 but showing the lateral plugand as this. contact earner 1s 1preferably removed and the movable contact carrier, turned the shell is prov ded wit a transthat is within the shell, in a difierent; verse slot 20 throughwhich the handle passes p tion; and Fig. his a perspcctive'view usinto the contact earner 2, the ends of the "trating, in'separated relation, the shell, the slot 20 defim the range of movement of w s carrier t el n s t e batman the contact oarrie'r towhich'y the handle is in one end of t e slot and closed when the handle is in the other end of "receives at least one transverse edge por-' the slot. The contact carrier 2 is formed with an opening 21 that receives the inner end of the handle that is preferably slid into this openin without being in threaded connection wit the contact carrier 2, though the invention is not to bethus limited.

In order to maintain the handle and the contact carrier 2 in assembly with each other and with the shell, the handle is provided with a transverse or annular groove 22 that tion and preferably both transverse edge portions of the slot 20, the portion of the handle circumscribed by the groove 22 being preferably but slightly narrower than said slot. The inner end ofthe handle is thus larger than the part that is in the slot 20, this enlarged inner end of the handle engaging the edges of the slot to maintain the handle and contact carrier in assembly. This' slot is ,7 provided with an enlargement 23 through which the inner end of the handle 19 may be passed into the opening 21 when this opening and the enlargement 23 are in register. The throat 24 between the slot eulargement 23 and the slot 20 is desirably also but slightly wider thanthe portion of the handle 19 circumscribed by the groove 22. When the handle has been inserted through the opening 23 into the opening '21 this,

groove 22 is in register with the surrounding portion of the shell 1 so that the handle may be moved through the throat 24: into the transverse slot 20, the springs 11 and 12 serving to prevent the handle from reentering the throat 24:, andthe slot enlargement 23 as the handle is moved from side to side in opening and closing the circuit.

The device illustrated is so constructed that it may be also employed to supply current to an inspection lamp or other translating device which is adapted tobe electrically coupled with the conductors 3 and 4: by means of a lateral plug 25. This plug is provided with two plugging contacts 26 an 27 which are engageable with contacts 28 and 29'that are projected by the springs Hand 12 into the lateral openings 30 and 31 formed in the conductors 3 and 4 to be positioned to be engageable by'the contact elements 26 and 27 inserted it snugly fits the opening 32 so'that the contact carrier 2 cannot then be turned. When the plug 25 is withdrawn the handle .19 may be manipulated to turn the carrier 2 larl'y my invention I do into openin or closing circuit position.

While I ave herein shown and particudescribed the preferred embodiment of not wish to be limitedto v the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without, departing from the spirit of my invention, but

When the plug 25 is. longitudinal plug when said handle is m ns 91. t e a d having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. In an electric connector, a shell, a circuit continuing plug movably mounted in the shell,-a plug operating handle detachably -interfitting with said plug and extending side of the shell in both on and ed positions of the plug to hold the handle against disengagement from the plug.

3. In an electric connector, shell having means terminal plug in one end thereof, a circuit pontinuing plug movably mounted in the shell, a detachable, plug pperating handle r'orthe circuit continuing plug extending through and shiftable along a slot in the a cylindricalto detachably secure a shell to move said -plug, means effective to.

ermit free engagement and disengagement of the handle with and from the circuit continuing plug when said handle is disposed in one portion of the slot, means on the handle engaging the shell when the handle is in other portions of the slot to prevent disengagement of the handle from the circuit continuing plug, and means operative when a terminal plug is secured in the shell to hold the circuit continuing plug in a position relative to the shell to dispose the handle in a portion of the slot where it is restrained against disengagement. from the circuit continuing plug.

,4. In an electric connection, a cylindrical shell having means to detachably secure a terminal plug in one end thereof and provided with a slot formed of a portion extending at an angle tothe longitudinal axis of the shell and a second portion extending from the first named portion longitudinallyof the shell in the direction of said terminal plug securing means, a circuit continuing plug mounted in theshell for rotatable and movements relative to the shell, a detachable plug operating handle for the circuit continuing plug extending through and shiftable along the first portion of the slot to rotate the plug and along the second portion of the'slot during longitudinal movement of the plug, meanseffective to permit free gement and handle with and from the circuit continuing V in a. given positron 1n the second portion of the slot, engaging the she l when disengagement of'the in a position to dispose the handle the handle is in the first portion of the slot to prevent disengagement of the handle from the circuit continuing plug','and means 0perative when a terminal plug is secured'in the shell to hold the circuit continuing plug in operative position in said first named portion of the slot.

A circuit continuing and switching device including a shell; a contact carrier V Within the shell and adapted to be turned;

therein mentto prevent movement of the contact carrier to circuit opening position.

6. A circuit continuing and switching device including a shell; a contact carrier Within the shell and adapted tobe moved in combination with a current conducting plug connectable With a current conductor upon said contact carrier, said shell having an opening in its side through Which said plug is inscrtable into the contact carrier, the shell serving to hold the plug from movement to prevent movement of the contact carrier to circuit opening position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of March, A. D. 1921. HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

